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Housing
If you live in private rented accommodation, the landlord usually needs a court order to force you to leave your home.
Our public health and housing team can:
To contact us:
Harassment is any action taken by a landlord, or someone acting on their behalf, to make a tenant leave their home.
Examples include:
Tenants should record the details of any harassment including the date, time and a short description of the incident. Tenants and registered private landlords can contact Housing Rights Mediation Service (link opens in new window) to help resolve disputes.
It is an unlawful eviction when a landlord, or any person acting for them, forces or attempts to force a tenant from their home without following the proper legal procedures.
Examples of unlawful eviction include:
If a landlord wants a tenant to leave, they must give the tenant a 'notice to quit', even if there is no tenancy agreement.
The notice to quit should be in writing. The landlord and tenant should each keep a copy.
Depending on the length of the tenancy, the landlord must give their tenant a minimum notice to quit period.
| Length of tenancy | Notice to quit |
|---|---|
| Tenancy has not existed for more than 12 months | not less than four weeks' written notice |
| Tenancy has existed for more than 12 months but not more than 10 years | not less than eight weeks' written notice |
| Tenancy has existed for more than 10 years | not less than 12 weeks' written notice |
If the tenant does not leave after the notice has expired, the landlord can apply for a court order from a magistrates' court. It is an offence to evict a tenant without getting a court order, even if the notice to quit has expired.
Depending on the length of the tenancy, the tenant must give their landlord a minimum notice to quit period.
| Length of tenancy | Notice to quit |
|---|---|
| Tenancy has not existed for more than 10 months | not less than four weeks' written notice |
| Tenancy has existed for more than 10 years | not less than 12 weeks' written notice |
Landlords do not need a court order to evict licensees, who share part or all of a property (usually with the landlord). Licensees are only entitled to 'reasonable' notice before they must leave the property.
To find out the difference between a tenant and a licensee, go to Housing Rights (link opens in new window).
For more information and advice, get in touch.
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